Men born since 1970 have 1/2 the testosterone as those born before… This is due to environmental toxins. As I’ve always said, we can’t get rid of the toxins but we can support our detox capabilities with herbs and nutrients such as silymarin, lipoic acid, glutathione, anti-oxidants and vitamin C. Lots of other herbs too!

This lack of testosterone since 1970 is being studied to see if it’s linked to kids with higher anxiety, depression, suicidal rates

It’s once estrodial takes over as the main hormone in men that estrodial interacts with environmental toxins and is linked to cancers… Pre-1970 testosterone levels peaked at around 40 years old, Since 1970’s it’s often in the teenage years/early 20’s, so estrodial is becoming dominant much earlier

Adrenal fatigue should be named ‘Burnout Syndrome’ according to Dr Flavio Cadigiani

Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome should be renamed under ‘Metabolic Syndrome’ as it’s insulin and inflammation that drive the PCOS, yet women can have metabolic syndrome without the PCOS, therefore many practitioners run out of ability to support clients with painful periods.

if you get unexplained pain in the brain (migraines), gut, uterus, spinal cord – you could have MCAS… Pop in and see us! There are nutrients known to pull stored histamine out of your body.

Every thought we have affects our genes either positively or negatively

Traumas from childhood can affect our kids / grandkids etc for up to 7 generations! With kinesiology and universal consciousness techniques we can mitigate these effects. In fact, studies show that a trauma in childhood activates obesity genes (we’re more lucky if we’ve been traumatised and don’t end up with weight challenges!) and addictive behaviours (are you self-medicating??)

Intermittent Fasting is proving to be a fantastic health-improvement tool for longevity! The most researched and popular Intermittent Fasting time bracket by the speakers was the 18/6. Off food for 18 hours (say 7pm until 1pm next day…). Every hour over 12 hours of fasting doubles the benefit of the previous 12 hours!

Does histamine control your life? Are you even aware that it might? You might have MCAS!!

Much of this information comes from Dr Tania Dempsey and Dr Jill Carnahan in the States…. but it is a Syndrome worth thinking about if you’re simply not getting on top of your pain, allergies, nervous system stresses etc…. Many doctors in Australia are totally unaware of this condition.

What is Mast Cell Activation Syndrome?

Mast cells, a type of blood cell, play an important role in the body’s immune system. They reside in all body tissues and form part of the body’s initial defence system. Mast cells react to foreign bodies and injury by releasing a variety of potent chemical mediators, such as histamine, when activated. In a healthy person these chemicals will act beneficially to protect and heal the body, but in a person with MCAS these same chemicals are inappropriately triggered and released and have a negative effect on the body. Amongst the triggers are a variety of different foods, exercise, chemicals, fragrances and stress. Many sufferers struggle to identify their triggers and continue to discover new triggers for many years after diagnosis.

MCAS forms part of a spectrum of mast cell disorders involving proliferation and/or excessive sensitivity of mast cells, it has been identified since 2007. It features inappropriate mast cell activation with little or no increase in the number of mast cells, unlike in Mastocytosis*. MCAS causes a wide range of unpleasant, sometimes debilitating, symptoms in any of the different systems of the body, frequently affecting several systems at the same time. The onset of MCAS is often sudden, affecting both children and adults, sometimes in family groups, mimicking many other conditions and presenting a wide-range of different symptoms that can be baffling for both the patient and their physician. Often there are no obvious clinical signs since MCAS confounds the anatomy-based structure underpinning the traditional diagnostic approach. Very often Mast Cell Activation Syndrome is hiding in plain sight.

Mastocystosis: very rare and NOT what we’re talking about here…

Mastocytosis involves inappropriate mast cell activation AS WELL AS an increased number of mast cells. It is a rare but relatively well known mast cell disorder and is currently easier to diagnose than MCAS.

Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS): When Histamine Goes Haywire…

Mast cells are present in most tissues throughout the human body, especially connective tissue, skin, intestinal lining cardiovascular system, nervous system, and reproductive organs. They are part of the allergic response designed to protect us from threat and injury. When the body is exposed to a perceived threat, the mast cells secrete chemical mediators, such as histamine, interleukins, prostaglandins, cytokines, chemokine and various other chemicals stored in the cytoplasm of the cell. These chemical messengers produce both local and systemic effects, such as increased permeability of blood vessels (inflammation and swelling), contraction of smooth muscle (stomach cramps and heart palpitations), and increase mucous production (congestion, sneezing, etc). Historically, we thought of mast cells only in relation to an allergic or anaphylactic response. We now know they play a profound role in immune activation, development of autoimmunity and many other disorders, such as POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome). Sadly we are seeing a large increase in patients presenting with mast cell disorders and MCAS. I believe it is in part do to the onslaught of more pervasive environmental toxins, moulds and chemicals.

Withouts mast cells, we would not be able to heal from a wound. They protect us from injury and help the body to heal. Unfortunately, overactive mast cells can cause a variety of serious symptoms.

Infertility (mast cells in endometrium may contribute to endometriosis)

Interstitial Cystitis

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Migraine Headaches

Mood disorders – anxiety, depression, and insomnia

Multiple Chemical Sensitivities

POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome)

Mast cells are known to be the primary responders in allergic reactions, orchestrating strong responses to minute amounts of allergens. Several recent observations indicate that they may also have a key role in coordinating the early phases of autoimmune diseases, particularly those involving auto-antibodies.

Lab Tests for Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) – many of these are as yet unavailable in Australia … Possibly histamine is as yet the only available, but chat to Georgia about what our Naturopathic Labs can offer….

Tryptase is the most famous mast cell mediator. Serum tryptase value is usually normal in MCAS patients, but sometimes it is elevated. Tryptase values that show an increase of 20% + 2 ng/ml above the baseline level are considered diagnostic for MCAS.

Chromogranin A is a heat-stable mast cell mediator. High levels can suggest MCAS, but other sources must first be ruled out, such as heart failure, renal insufficiency, neuroendocrine tumors and proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use.

Heparin is a very sensitive and specific marker of mast cell activation. However, due to its quick metabolism in the body, it is very difficult to measure reliably.

N-methylhistamine is usually measured in a 24 hour urine test to account for the variability in release over the course of the day.

Prostaglandin D2 is produced by several other cell types, but mast cell release is responsible for the dominant amount found in the body. PGD2 is less stable than histamine and metabolized completely in 30 minutes.